John Schell
The Sydney Cup winning combination of trainer Kris Lees and jockey Jason Collett will link together again at Hawkesbury on Tuesday when they attempt to start the meeting with a bang.
The pair won the $2 million Sydney Cup last Saturday with outsider Changingoftheguard leading throughout to score the upset win. Lees also enjoyed success in the $1m Provincial-Midway Championships Final when James McDonald partnered Lord Of Biscay.
Lees and Collett will attempt to win the second event at Hawkesbury when Royal Botanic starts in the Hahn Super Dry Provincial Maiden Plate (1100m).
Lees is expecting the filly to run well, with Royal Botanic having had plenty of trial experience leading into her debut with the daughter of Old Kirk having gone around on five occasions.
“Andrew Gibbons has been on her in her two most recent trials, and he’s been very happy with her,” Lees said. “She won a trial on the Beaumont track at Newcastle and then was beaten a half-length when third in the latest of them at Scone.
“She’s drawn a good gate at Hawkesbury, and I think she will run very well. The 1100m should suit her on debut and Jason will give her every chance. He’s in good form and horses run for him.”
Collett has four other rides at Hawkesbury, with the mount on the Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes trained Five OF A Kind awaiting in the XXXX Gold Maiden Handicap (1400m).
He partners the unbeaten David Pfieffer trained Gorgeous in the TAB Agents Association Of NSW Class 1 Handicap (1000m), while he is on the Matthew Smith prepared pair of Omaha Sand in the Clarendon Tavern C,G&E Benchmark 64 Handicap (1400m), and Glastonbury Girl in the De Bortoli Wines F&M Benchmark 64 Handicap (1400m) – the final two races of the day.
Smith was also in fine form at Randwick on Saturday when he enjoyed success in the $1m Queen Of The Turf Stakes courtesy of Idle Flyer, which was ridden by Zac Lloyd.
Smith will have Noble One lining up against Omaha Sand, while he has Dawn Or Dusk and Dame Dividend in the third event.
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays at racingnsw.com.au
